How do I un-stick a seat post?

Question

I'm building up a '76 Schwinn frame, and it's going pretty well in general, but the frame has one problem. The seat post is stuck. I've put extra oils on it, and pulled and twisted as hard as I could, but I can't get it to budge. It feels like it hasn't been moved since '76.

I was able to find a replacement seat post in a scrap pile, so if the post is damaged it's not a problem. I need the seat tube to stay intact, though.

How do I get this out?

Answer 1

In addition to that one dude,

for pulling / twisting, use something like vice grips to grasp the post.  You'll have better grip and more power behind your movements,  I find that often helps.

Answer 2

try spraying wd-40 on it and let it sit for a few minutes before trying again. Also the bolt clamp that holds the seat post on there, try prying that open a little with a heavy screwdriver or something, not too much just a little.

Answer 3

You need a penetrating oil like Liquid Wrench.  Douse the joint quite well and let it sit.  You may also be able to spread the seat tube somewhat with a screwdriver in the groove that runs from the top of the seat tube down the back of the seat tube.

Gentle heat may help as well.  You don't need a torch to warm the seat tube; a hair dryer will do.  (Pardon me for asking, but would a woman who rebuilds 76 Schwinn's own a hair dryer?)

When applying heat, you've got to work pretty quickly.  The goal is to heat up the seat tube so it'll expand slightly, but you don't want to keep the heat on so long that the seat post expands, as well.  Obviously, if the seat post expands, you're beat.  So, you want to warm the tube a quick dose of heat, then try to break the post loose.  Also, unless you are willing to sacrifice the paint job, be careful not to soften or melt the paint.  (If you melt the paint, you've probably kept the heat on too long.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Spray a good amount of wd-40 or similar penetrant (even ATF will penetrate rust) on the post at the frame.  Most penetrating oils work (as much as they will) in an hour.

Loosen the nut and bolt that clamps the post.

Remove the seat from the post and use a pipe wrench to turn the post --at the seat mounting area--as it will give you more leverage and do less damage than vice grips.

You can't heat the frame with a torch without vaporizing the paint.

Answer 5

try wd 40 and a rubber hammer